Monument record BGL 007 - Eight round barrows on Martlesham Heath; Brightwell Heath

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Summary

Scheduled Monument - A round barrow of probable Bronze Age date is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, bisected by a fenceline dividing the monument between a field, formerly Brightwell Heath, and the garden of a residential building.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 2465 4450 (24m by 23m) (2 map features)
Map sheet TM24SW
Civil Parish BRIGHTWELL, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK
Civil Parish MARTLESHAM, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Round barrow, formerly on heathland (Brightwell Heath), now converted to farmland and housing estate:
1935 - Bowl barrow (S1).
1962 - Bowl barrow cut by a field boundary, to the S of which it is much reduced and spread by the plough. To the N, under bracken, it survives to a maximum height of 0.7m. Average diameter 21m (S2)
1978 - Height 0.8m, diameter 21m. Half ploughed and half under bracken, also 1 small oak tree. Several large rabbit holes (S3).
1982 - Contour survey carried out, maximum height 1.08m, diameter 24m (S4). 1983 - N half of barrow fenced, covered with a thin layer of topsoil and regrassed. Oak tree left in position. Sign erected. This half is now in a private garden, Block B, Hamlet J, Martlesham Heath. S half is still in a ploughed field (S5).
1985: Barrow lies on fence line, behind block of flats. N half of which is in communal garden, is grassed, has a single oak tree growing on it, is surrounded by a fence, and is marked by an explanatory notice, composed by E Martin (SAU) and erected by Bidwells. S half, which is in same arable field as 94a, is in cultivation and survives to only approx 0.25m high, in contrast to the approx 1m of the N half (S7).
A round barrow of probable Bronze Age date is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, now bisected by a fenceline dividing the monument between a field, formerly part of Brightwell Heath, and the garden of a residential building. This site is one of a number of similar earthworks scattered around Brightwell Heath, clearly visible on photographs of 1947 (S8).
By 1992 the housing estate has expanded and a hint of a ditch may be visible around the barrow as a cropmark, but has not been transcribed (S9).

Sources/Archives (12)

  • <S1> (No record type): NWHCM, 1935.
  • <M1> (No record type): Contour survey:.
  • <M2> (No record type): Barrow survey archive:.
  • <S2> Index: OS. OS Card. OS, card TM24SW13A.
  • <S3> (No record type): SAU Martin E, Barrow Survey,.
  • <M3> (No record type): SAM file:.
  • <S4> (No record type): SAU, Martin E, Contour Survey.
  • <S5> (No record type): SAU, Martin E, view.
  • <S6> (No record type): Lawson, A.J., Martin, E. & Priddy, D.. 1981. The Barrows of East Anglia. Lawson A J, Martin E A & Priddy D 'The Barrows of East Anglia', East Anglian Archaeology, 12, 1981, .
  • <S7> Unpublished document: Department of the Environment. Scheduling information.
  • <S8> Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. RAF CPE/UK/1937 4219-20 18-JAN-1947.
  • <S9> Photograph: OS, AP. OS OS/92363 169-70 27-JUN-1992.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (9)

Record last edited

Jun 7 2019 11:56AM

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